Unless you have spent last two years on an isolated island, everybody has noticed: the album ’Dystopia’ with new singer Stu Block has made Iced Earth one of the leading bands of the US traditional metal scène again. Finally they were able to do worldwide touring, bringing this top notch material to the crowds. A bit more than two years after ‘Dystopia’, the successor ‘Plagues Of Babylon’ will be in the shops at the beginning of January. And we can sleep on both ears: this is a statement as strong as iron – musically as well as lyric-wise – from a hardworking band under guidance of riff master Jon Schaffer!

For the first time in Iced Earth’s history, an album was not recorded in the US, but in Germany. In this way, the band was nearby when playing some of the Summer festivals and needless long distance travelling was avoided. But let us cut the cackle and come to the horses. The six first songs of ‘Plagues Of Babylon’ continue the well-known ‘Something Wicked’ story. It is an overwhelming strong start with the seven minutes long title track, entering step by step with a triumphant guitar line. They cut loose with vigorous classic heavy metal, regaled with the juicy rendered vocal lines of Block. Fetching choruses and melodious solos of Troy Steele are prominently present as well in the sturdy ‘Democide’ and the tightly played neck-breaker ‘Among The Living Dead’. The dramatic tinged vocals in ‘The Culling’ prove that Stu perfectly masters this discipline too. In ‘Resistance’ there are one-liners that instantly invite you to sing along. Stalwart harmony chants are numerous on this album. In five songs Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian) contributes to them. ‘The End?’ temporarily winds up the ‘Something Wicked’ story for now with some sensitive, contemplative passages and hymn-like chants. Fast and furious guitar skills rule all over. The second part of the album is mostly a bit quieter. Starting with the very beautiful, genuine ‘If I Could See You’ (dedicated to Schaffer’s grandpa) and continuing with the H.P. Lovecraft inspired ‘Cthulhu’ that puts the whip on it again halfway. Remarkable is that Iced Earth keeps on adding new elements in driblets. A magnificent southern rock vibe reigns in ‘Peacemarker’ and the captivating ‘Spirit Of The Times’ which was originally done by Jon’s solo project Sons Of Liberty. I can’t help it, but ‘Peacemaker’ reminds me of ‘Fall Of The Peacemakers’ from Molly Hatchett and naturally it is akin to Lynyrd Skynyrd too (slide guitar). Another wink to American traditions follows in the cover song ‘Highwayman’ at the end. This was once performed by icons from the country world, but this version features vocals of Jon, Stu, Michael Poulsen (Volbeat) and Russell Allen (Symphony X, Adrenaline Mob) as a statement of brotherhood. Iced Earth confirms (again) that they belong to the greatest within their genre!

Plagues Of Babylon (7:49)Democide (5:22)The Culling (4:26)Among The Living Dead (5:14)Resistance (4:59)The End? (7:14)If I Could See You (3:57)Cthulhu (6:05)Peacemaker (5:02)Parasite (3:30)Spirit Of The Times (5:06)Highwaymen (3:14)